Self-serving Measure D

Measure D on the November ballot is good policy, but as written is a bad idea.

Measure D on the November ballot is good policy, but as written is a bad idea.

Still, we recommend a Yes vote.

The measure would extend from two to three the number of terms a person could serve as a San Joaquin County supervisor.

This makes sense for two reasons:

» There is a steep learning curve when it comes to being an effective county supervisor. The complexities of water issues alone are such that some people spend a lifetime dealing with just water policy. An additional four years gives the elected official more time to develop the needed expertise to help fashion valuable policies.

» We generally oppose term limits - and have said so repeatedly over the years - because of our belief that we already have them: they're called elections. It should be the voters' decision to keep or reject an incumbent and not some arbitrary time limit, especially since the history of such laws is one of special interests taking aim at specific candidates under the guise of good government.

All that being said, we are deeply troubled by Measure D because it does not exclude the very supervisors who put it on the ballot. They put it there and they'll personally benefit if it passes.

Only Supervisor Leroy Ornellas, who in June ran third in the three-way race for state Senate from the 5th District, voted against Measure D.

The others - Steve Bestolarides, Larry Ruhstaller, Carlos Vallapudua and Ken Vogel - supported it. In fact, a new political action committee - the Central Valley PAC-California formed to push Measure D - received $10,000 from each of the campaign committees for Bestolarides, Villapudua and Vogel, according to documents filed with the California Secretary of State's Office.

We oppose term limits as a general proposition. Absent getting rid of term limits, we support the idea of longer terms.

And we support Measure D, although we would urge voters to remember the supervisors who included themselves in its bene-fits.

When those four seek re-election, their "self-serving" position on Measure D should not be forgotten.